Mechanically controlled adjustable clothes hanger



R. M. JOHNSON 2,487,445

MECHANICALLY CONTROLLED ADJUSTABLE CLOTHES HANGER Nov. 8, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 25, 1946 INVENTOR M. JOHNSON ROBERT ATTORNVEY R. M. JOHNSON Nam 1949 MECHANICALLY CONTROLLED ADJUSTABLE CLOTHES HANGER 2 Sheets-$heet- 2 Filed Aug. 25, 1946 INVENTOR ROBERT M. JOHNSON ATTORNE Patented Nov. 8, 1949 I UNITED STATES M ENTJ oer-ice MECHANICALLY CONTRBIi-Lfifl *ADiUSTKBLE I CLOTHES HANGER v 2 Claims. 1

This invention relates to adjustable clothes hangers and th-likeiand the-primary object of the invention is to providea hanger that eanbe controlled -'or adjusted -by *the operatioir 'of its mechanism to minute control or restraint to fit the shoulders of various sizes of coats and the like. Adurther object of the in vention is to provide a mechanisin for controllingthe widtli' of the hanger by turning the supporting hook of the hanger either one way or another contracting or expanding the width of the hanger.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a pants or skirt hanger that will hold the pants or skirt of the suit in connection with my adjustable hanger.

These and other incidental objects will be apparent in the drawings, specification and claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side view in elevation of my new and improved adjustable hanger, the same being contracted within its minimum dimension.

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1 and illustrating the mechanism for adjusting the hanger.

Figure 3 is an end perspective view of one of the sections of the hanger removed from the hanger assembly.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Figure 5, the pants hanger being omitted for clarity of illustration.

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view taken vertically and longitudinally of the hanger, showing the pants hanger in side elevation.

Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 6-6 of Figure 5 of the pants hanging bars.

In the drawings:

My new and improved adjustable clothes hanger consists of two hanger sections I and 2, adjustably mounted in regards to one another. Inner end partitions 3 and 4 are fixedly secured within these sections stiffening the sections and holding them in shape. Flat rack bars 5 and 6 extend from the partitions and serve to support and hold the hanger sections I and 2 in alignment.

The gear rack 5 passes through the opening I of the partition 4, thence through a guide opening 8, formed in a brace 9 of section I maintaining section 2 in alignment therewith. The rack bar 8 extends through a guide opening In in the partition 3 of the hanger section 2 and on through a guide opening in a brace I2 within said section providing a means to guide and support for sec tion I relative to section 2.

The rack bars 5 and 6 are spaced apart and pass through a centrally located frame I3. The frame I 3: is mounted on a bar #I 4' at I 5; and supports a cross bar lt 'ofthe pants or 'skirt' hanging unit i-ndicated in general by1the'nume'ra1' I'I.

Clampin hars I8 and IS are hingedly mo'unted clainping' 'bar i 8 being held'against the crossbar It? by" tl'ie'latch 'Z I oper'ating within the slot 22- of the clamping bar and being rotatably mounted tot-he crossbar I 51" The clamping bar I I 9' is held :bythe locking-lateh 23-which is rotatably mounted to the clamping bar I8 and passing through the slot 24 of the clamping bar I9.

In the operation of the holding unit I! a pair of pants can be clamped under the clamping bar I8 while another pair of pants may be clamped under the clamping bar I 9, either pair may be removed without the removal of the other, which is one of the outstanding features of the design illustrated; Both pairs of pants may be removed from the front or opening of the coat while hanging on the hanger.

A vertical shaft 25 is journalled at 26 in the cross bar I6. On this shaft is mounted a gear wheel 21 provided with a sleeve 3|. The teeth of the gear wheel engage in openings 28, formed in the frame I3and are thus held in position in said frame. The gear wheel is provided with a sleeve 3 I, which is journalled in bearings 32 formed in the frame, while the teeth 29 engage in openings 30 formed in the rack bars 5 and 6.

When the hanger is supporting the clothes the Weight of the same will be supported by a head 33 formed on the lower end of shaft 25, said head bearing on the undersurface of the cross bar I6.

When it is desired to extend or expand the hanger sections the rod 25 is forced downwardly engaging the lug or pin 34 with the notch 35 in the hub 3| of the gear wheel 21. By revolving the upper end of the hook 36 of the shaft 25, the rack bars 5 and 6 will be moved past one another moving the hanger sections I and 2 either away from or towards one another, providing the desired control of adj ustmentof the hanger relative to the width of the shoulders of the garment being supported thereon.

After the adjustment has been made and when the weight is brought to bear on the hook 36 the lug 34 will disengage itself from the notch 35 of the sleeve 3| allowing the hanger sections I and 2 to remain in this position until further adjustment is made. The openings 30 do not extend to the outer end of the rack bars, therefore when the hanger sections have been expanded the full amount the gear 2! cannot rotate any further due to the lack of holes Within the rack bars,

, ment of said shaft-when 3 thereby providing a stop that will maintain the parts in assembled position.

I do not wish to be limited to the exact mechanical structure as shown, as other mechanical equivalents may be substituted still coming within the scope of my claims.

What I claim as new is:

1. In an adjusting means for clothes hangers of the type including a pair of hanger sections, each hanger section near its inner end having a partition and a brace spaced from the partition,

a rack bar secured to and projecting from each partition, the free ends of the-rack bars extending to and through the partition and brace'of the adjacent hanger section, a frame embracing the rack bars between the hanger section's-i a garment support depending from the frame, a geanhaying a vertical sleeve mounted in the frame, the teeth of the gear meshing with the rack bar'sand eiztending through openings formed in opposite sides of the frame, a shaft extending through the sleeve and depending below the same and below the hanger sections, a head on the lower end of the shaft, a lug on the shaft above the gear to 'cooperatewith a notch formed in the upper edge of the sleeve, whereby to rotate the gear when said lug is'in engagement with the notch to laterally adjust the hanger sections, the head on the lower end of the shaft limiting the upward movedisengaging the lug from the notch.

2. An adjusting means for a clothes hanger comprising a pair of clothes supporting sections, each section having a partition near its inner end, a flat bar extending from each partition, the bars being spaced apart, the free ends of the bars extending to and through the partition of the adjacent hanger section, each bar having a series of openings, a frame embracing the bars between the hanger sections, a horizontally disposed gear in the frame between the bars, the teeth of the gear meshing with the openings in the spaced apart bars, a shaft extending through the gear, and means between the shaft and gear to form an interlock to rotate the gear to laterally adjust the hanger sections at will.

ROBERT M. JOHNSON.

asstmmns CITED ""Theiollowing references are of record in the file of this patent! UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Norway Nov. 15, 1943 

